Summer 2024 A&F Times
Summer Column
It is that time of year when many of us may receive the familiar, but oh-so misguided question, “you must love having summers off,” from those who hear you work in education. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth for those in Administration and Finance, as summer is when our division really heats up!
Following the graduation of 2,065 students this spring, you all have shifted gears to tackle a range of critical activities. These include finalizing the fiscal year-end, supporting the summer conference series and new student orientation, addressing deferred facilities maintenance projects, preparing for next year's student move-in, packaging financial aid, processing retroactive salary programs, conducting annual performance evaluations, and much much more. Your hard work, both on the frontlines and behind the scenes, whether classes are in or out of session, keeps the university running smoothly and helps us fulfill our mission. Your dedication is essential to our continued success and does not go unnoticed. Thank you to CPDC, Entrepreneurial Activities, Facilities Management, Financial Services, HR, IT, Risk Management and Safety Services, University Budget, Resource Planning and Analysis, and University Police for everything you and your teams do!
Amid all this activity, it is also important to remember to review your current vacation balances and forecast the additional time you will accrue between now and the end of the year. As we navigate these busy months, please ensure you are making plans to take time off to avoid exceeding the maximum vacation balance come January 1. You have earned that time and it is crucial for many reasons that you use it to recharge!
What's Happening on Campus
Summer Conference Season is in Full Swing!
Those of you who have been here during the summer months know that while many of the students may be gone, the campus is definitely not closed. Over the course of 7 weeks each summer, our Conference & Event Services and Student Center Operations teams welcome guests from all over the country to reflect, renew, and reconnect on our campus.
This summer, 18 groups comprising over 6,000 conference and camp attendees will be spending time on our picturesque campus. The majority of these guests (over 4,000!) will be college-bound within the next six years. The groups who participate in SSU's Summer Conference program include:
- Sports Camps
- Youth Camps
- Religious Groups
- Professional Organizations
- University Sponsored Programs
- And many more!
Summer conferences are a great use of our campus to increase our exposure and create revenue where there would otherwise be none. Not only does this help support University Culinary Services in creating year-round employment and revenue with over 85,000 meals served, but it also supports REACH in utilizing our residences with over 27,000 nights stayed, leading to financial resources for both necessary and creative endeavors. Summer conferences fund the entire Conference and Events Services department and various projects identified by campus. The revenue has been used for everything from scholarships to new bleachers in our Wolves' Den.
A big thank you to all the campus partners who make this work possible: CES, Student Center Ops, Performing Arts, GMC, Facilities, Parking, Culinary, Shipping and Receiving, and Campus Recreation!
That's A Wrap!
Looking back on 2023-2024
As we close out another fiscal year and prepare for the start of the next, it's important to take a step back and reflect on all we've done over the past 12 months.
- Awarded more than $50 million in Financial Aid to our students
- Welcomed more than 1,700 new students to campus in Fall 2023
- Installed 15,912 sq. ft. of solar panels to sustainably power the campus
- Successfully graduated just over 2,000 students in Spring 2024
- Welcomed 33 new staff members to A&F
- And so much more!
Shoutouts!
University Police student assistant, Aaron Estrada, led the Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard this past Memorial Day in Healdsburg.
Information Technology would like to thank the Facilities team for assisting them with some office moves and clean up of our space. Facilities was able to accommodate some last minute changes and handled complicated logistics smoothly. Thank you Vincent Cruz, Talmadge Savage, David Alves, Dylan Ratto, Travis Vining, and Patty Couret!
Sergeant Karl Mortenson was awarded the University Police "Employee of the Year" Award at the department's annual Recognition Gathering. Congrats Karl!
A big thank you to the Facilities Management team for all they do in preparation for the campus commencement ceremonies! The team recognizes and embraces SSU's commitment to educating and graduating students, and employs an all-hands effort to prepare the campus for this monumental event. Tasks included:
- Coordinating the setup of 3,000 chairs on the GMC terrace lawn
- Landscaping clean-up
- Repairing lights
- Installing banners
- Adjusting HVAC and lock schedules
- Moving supplies and equipment to/from the commencement site
- Deep cleaning restrooms and public space
And they managed all this while also supporting the residential community move out and getting apartment units ready for the Summer Conference season. The campus is grateful for your support in the celebration and achievements of our students as they make the transition from being a Seawolf student to a Seawolf alumni!
Anniversaries & New Hires!
Welcomed to SSU in May
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Belen Aguilar | Facilities Management |
| Vincent Cruz | Capital Planning Design & Construction |
| James Hercher | Maintenance |
Celebrated Anniversaries in May
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Lloyd Dowell | Workstation Security & Services |
| Colleen Radin | Kitchens |
| Corina Williams | Housekeeping |
| David Hudkins | Landscaping |
| Kevin Pena Marchena | Maintenance |
| Patrick Mooney | Maintenance |
| Brhana Embaye | Housekeeping |
| `Kelly Clark | Student Center Operations |
| Andres Zamudio | Housekeeping |
| Joshua Gillespie | Operations & Engineering |
| Keith Tucker | Operations & Engineering |
| Sarah Gillespie | Conference & Event Services |
| Carolyn Faulconer | Purchasing |
| John Howard | University Police |
| Michael Elliot | Operations & Engineering |
| Gary Peterson | Maintenance |
| Melanie Powers | Payroll & Benefits |
| Jordan Lundberg | Operations & Engineering |
| Kathy Cronin | Housekeeping |
| Dusty Magallon | Receipts Receivables |
| Heather Cain | Payroll & Benefits |
| Brian Orr | Receipts Receivables |
| Christopher Dinno | Development Projects |
Welcomed to SSU in June
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Oscar Carbonell | Operations & Engineering |
| Robert Grant | Operations & Engineering |
Celebrated Anniversaries in June
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Jackie Ell | Maintenance |
| Karla Garcia Lugo | Payables |
| Grace Guchu | Housekeeping |
| Kendall Newman | Risk Management & Safety Services |
| Jeremiah Timm | Kitchens |
| Kelly Cambou | Seawolf Services |
| Stefan Fecker | Maintenance |
| Christopher Romo | Kitchens |
| Erin Rock | Talent Acquisition & Workforce Administration |
| Jessica Avner | Seawolf Services |
| Mark Utarid | Operations & Engineering |
| Alonso Gonzalez-Yanez | Landscaping |
| Carolynne Schmidt | Payables |
| Julia Ibanez | Financial Aid |
| Luz Gutierrez | Housekeeping |